In the hot Israeli summer, there is nothing better than a walk on a shady route along a flowing stream and while stopping to take a dip in the cool and refreshing water. Here are some suggestions for some water tours in Israel for your family, groups and couples interested in nice tours over Israel.
Whether you are traveling with a family or a group of friends or in pairs and you are looking to escape the oppressive heat and the scorching sun, this is the right time for a light water walk along a shady stream. What is important to always check is the different opening hours and restrictions that can and will be relevant at any site especially in the Corona era. Anyway, in the case of a site of nature reserves and gardens, pre-registration is required.
Tel Dan Natural Reserve
The closest to heaven in Israel is the Tel Dan Reserve. A spring that has the most leaning in the entire Middle East, a flowing stream, poplar and fig trees and lush vegetation – all of these will help you find peace here even on days when the reserve is crowded with visitors. Altough the reserve is not large, it has four hiking trails, including a trail adapted for wheelchairs and prams, which runs through the woods along the creek. It is best to choose the long route which is also not really long, only about an hour and a half of easy walking in between Highs called “Paradise.” If history and an ancient settlement interest you and the weather allows it worthwhile you should start the tour at the ancient Dan site and return through the springs.
Snir Stream
The Snir stream, also known as Hasbani, is one of the most enjoyable hiking trails on a hot summer day. This is an easy and not long route rich in vegetation, shade and abundant water. Its only downside is that it is so familiar and popular that everyone knows it and in the summer it is crowded with travelers.
The hike in the creek begins from the parking lot of the national park, passes by artificial wading pools, with a small waterfall in one of them. The route continues along the eastern bank of the stream, whose flow in some sections is turbulent and in others quiet and calm. The road is mostly shaded by willow and plane trees and the stream is an excellent refuge from the heat outside. The route is so accessible that anyone who comes with wheelchairs or strollers can walk up to the paddling pools. Those who are interested in a slightly longer route can walk another 30 minutes along the creek and then return to the parking lot the same way. You can also walk to the end of the route that ends close to the Snir Bridge. In this case, it is worth bouncing one car in advance to the Alonit parking lot – Gan Hatzafon, near the end point of the route.
Daliot Estuary (Magrasa)
Without a doubt the ultimate water trip is the trip in the estuary of Daliot or as it is better known as Magrasa. The Magrasa is part of the Beit Zida Valley in the northeast of the Sea of Galilee, where there are streams, diverse water landscape pools, springs and the delta of the Jordan River. Almost the entire length of the hike you walk in running water and between pools, some of which can only be swum if you are hiking with children who do not know how to swim or prefer not to walk in deep water, there are exit points before the deep water, and you can walk the corresponding dry route. In fact you can walk in a section of shallow water and continue at the same time on a comfortable road without water. The route begins on a paved and marked path that descends to the river channel in the thicket of the reed, on the bank of wadi Dalyot. You can get in the water and start walking downstream. The stream changes its width and depth during the trip. Towards the middle of the route, the stream channel widens into ponds, where you can get an impression of the lagoon’s plants.
The water in the pools can be higher than a person’s height in rainy years, and in more parked years – at waist height. It must be taken into account because of the deep water to equip yourself with suitable equipment to protect the equipment you carry from the water. I recommended not to take risks and not to take equipment that is not essential and may be damaged by water.
Wadi Kziv
We start in the area of Mount Meron and go out to one of the most beautiful and impressive water routes in Israel. After the route begins on Mount Meron it winds until it empties into the Mediterranean Sea at Achziv Beach. Depending on the degree of difficulty, there are three options for a trip in Nahal Kziv.
The first and easiest route is to the Hardelit route. The route to Ein Hardelit, at the bottom of the stream, and walking on a light and flat route in the water back and forth. Walk from the car in the parking lot to the Hardelit stream for a quarter of an hour at most.
The second route on a medium level is from the Olives parking lot to the Bow Trail. This option is suitable for middle-class and well-traveled families and the route has a steep descent and a challenging ascent. The route is about five kilometers long and lasts about four hours. On this route you descend down a beautiful road to the stream and reach the Ein Tamir spring, where you can wade in the water and also enter a dark cave to the source of the spring. From there continue in the shade along the creek until you reach a black trail, which ascends back up to Goren Park. Since the route is not circular, drive a car to the end point, to the parking lot of the Bow Trail, about a kilometer west of the Olives parking lot. A small parking bay on a dirt road will mark your location. The Monfort Fortress can be included in the visit and then the route is extended by another two kilometers.
The third option is for hikers and is to do a circular route in the creek. Begins the route at Mitzpe Hila and from there descends a winding road towards the stream. After walking in the creek ascend a red path towards the Monfort Fortress. Visit the mighty Crusader fortress, and from there ascend back to Mitzpe Hila. The route is about 10 kilometers long and the estimated time is about six hours.
Wadi Amud Nature Reserve
A charming nature reserve, where you can enjoy a river that flows all year round, orchards, a Mediterranean grove, clear pools and pure springs. In the Nahal Amud Reserve, there are several hiking trails of varying difficulty. For families, the circular route is suitable, which is about four kilometers long and takes about 3-4 hours to walk. On the way, pass by Ein Yakim – a lush spring that springs all year round, next to which are many fig trees, remnants, old flour mill Orchard restored with fruit trees, beautiful and shady storage ponds, spectacular vantage pointsAnd small, shallow pools of clear water shaded by plane trees. The route is not difficult,
Except for the steep ascent at the end, and the abundance of water, shade and fruit trees make it playful.
Wadi Sherech – Betzet
Nahal Betzet is one of the northern streams in Israel, and borders the Sulam Tzur ridge to the south, part of which is in Lebanon. The route begins near Moshav Granot Hagalil, where you can also visit Horbat Danila, the remains of an ancient settlement from the Roman period. You can get an impression of the remains of the cloth house that are on the site. From there you start walking in the disappointing fern stream, towards the Betzet stream. The trail in the creek runs through these trees, oak, and catalpa and includes a visit to a fern cave. After the cave you will reach the source of the water in the stream, and you will be able to wade in the clear water. From there continue through typical stream vegetation, sacred raspberry bushes and haunted streams and huge plane trees. The route ends with an ascent to Kibbutz Ayalon. The route is not circular and vehicles are required to bounce. The starting point of the route in the Danila parking lot near the settlement of Granot Hagalil and the end point in Kibbutz Ayalon.
Mei Kedem
If you are looking for a very short and refreshing route in the center of the country, you would do well to consider walking in the Mei Kedem water cave in Alona Park. Although not really a challenging trip, it is a wet, shady and fun family outing a short drive from the center of the country. This tunnel is part of a water system from the Roman-Byzantine period designed to transfer water from Ein Sabrin, near the present-day valley, to the city of Caesarea. A network of canals, tunnels and aqueducts stretched over about 23 kilometers. The Romans dug shafts between them and a hole that carried water for six kilometers. All of these works were accidentally exposed during local earthworks. After the exposure and cleaning, a 280-meter-long tunnel opening was opened to the public.
When you arrive at the site you get a brief explanation of the place and then the real experience begins and you go down to the belly of the earth through one of the shafts and walk in the cold water. A strip of light hanging on the walls illuminates the darkness a little, and the water, which at first is quite shallow, towards the end reaches all the way above the knees of an older person and above the waist of young hikers. The march in the narrow, winding cave beats, and the depressions in the walls intended for candles in the Roman period are moving. The walk is upright and the water reaches a height of between 40 and 70 cm.
Wadi Arugot
Nahal Arugot flows within the Ein Gedi Reserve, one of the most special places in the world. The reserve has arid desert landscapes alongside an abundance of water, green vegetation and a rich wildlife. The reserve has several hiking trails, one of the easiest of which is the circular trail in Nahal Arugot. Water flows in the river all year round and the trip is pleasant, not difficult and suitable for families.
At the entrance to the reserve, start walking along the path marked in red, up the stream. When you reach the trail junction, choose the path marked in blue, which is adjacent to the water flow. As long as possible, it is advisable to walk for it, but at some points walking in it is forbidden, then there is no choice but to cross the red trail. The path ends at the point where the gorge is blocked by a rock wall a few feet high, above which falls a beautiful waterfall, Known as the “Hidden Waterfall.” This is the highlight of the trip. From the waterfall you can walk back on the upper route, on the north bank of the gorge and above it. Along the creek are many shady corners where you can stop, wade through the water and look at the surrounding landscape. With patience and a little luck, you will see rock faces and goats. The length of the circular route is about four kilometers.
